Selective positioning means for curtain assembly

ABSTRACT

A selective positioning means for a curtain assembly is disclosed as having a one-piece curtain element which is mounted on a spring-biased shaft and a rigid bar associated withthe curtain element wherein the selected positioning means is associated with the rigid bar and is arranged to overcome the spring-biased shaft in the selected positioning of the free end of the curtain element at desired locations.

United Stat 6S Patent [191 Elliott 1 Mar. 19, 1974 [5 SELECTIVE POSITIONING MEANS FOR 1,882,982 10/1932 Schmiedeslcamp 160/273 R CURTAIN ASSEMBLY 2,509,398 5/1950 Peremi et al 160/272 X [76] Inventor: Phillip Mitchell Elliott, 411 N. 7th FOREIGN PATENTS OR PPLICATICNS St-. S L i M 63101 1,021,967 3/1966 Great Britain 160/271 [22] Filed: July 17, 1972 Primary Examiner-Mervin Stem 1 1 Appl- N03 2721227 Assistant Examiner-Philip C. Kannan 52] us. (:1. 160/267, 160/273 [57] ABSTRACT [51] E06, 9/08 Eob 9/17 A selective positioning means for a curtain assembly is [5 1 Field of Search 160/267, 265, 266, 271,

16o disclosed as having a one-plece curtain element which is mounted on a spring-biased shaft and a rigid bar as- [56] References Cited socia ted withthe curtain element vherein the selected NI positlonmg rneans 1s associated with the r1g1d bar and U TED STATES PATENTS is arranged to overcome the spring-biased shaft in the 13821951 10/1932 pp 160/273 R X selected positioning of the free end of the curtain elel,764.880 6/1930 Nelson 160/267 ment at desired locations 1.796.897 3/1931 Saa 160/281 1,867,391 7/1932 Traut 160/267 3 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures Pmminmw mm 37975553 III-II'IIIIIIII 1 SELECTIVE POSITIONING MEANS FOR CURTAIN ASSEMBLY SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Roller shades presently in use have a rewind-spring and clutching mechanism incorporated within the 'rol- Ier for selected positioning of the free end of the shade in generally the location desired. The impreciseness of the clutching mechanism, together with the strength required for the rewind spring makes it virtually impossible to position the free end of currently manufactured shade devices in an exact location. In addition, it is dificult to manipulate or control such shade products in the manner desired. Where more control and positioning of roller shade product is desired, it is necessary that some other means be developed other than currently existing mechanisms.

In my prior co-pending patent application Ser. No. 206,703 filed Dec. 10, 1971, I have disclosed a curtain element which is adapted to be slidably mounted in sealed and non-shifting relationship in opposed track members. Such a device may include a roller shade type product where the curtain element is convolutely wound about the roller. With such devices, for exam ple, a selective positioning mechanism for accurate and controlled movement of the free end of the curtain element would be very desirable.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved selective positioning means for a curtain element.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an adjustable control mechanism for selectively positioning the free end of a flexible curtain element in a desired location.

These and other objects and advantages are attained by the provision of a one-piece curtain element which is convolutely wound about a spring-biased shaft, a rigid bar associated with the free end of the curtain element, and means associated with the rigid bar for selectively positioning the free end of the curtain element at desired locations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating the selective positioning means for the curtain element which is constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view depicting the cooperative elements of the selective positioning means;

FIG. 3 is a top perspective view of a guide element associated with the selective positioning means;

FIG-4 is a fragmentary sectional view depicting the rigid bar and selective positioning means of the present invention; and

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of a curtain element convolutely wound at its upper end about a spring-biased shaft.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In the drawing, a flexible curatin element I is depicted without any illustration of a roller shade device with which it is desirably used. Since roller shade devices are well known products, it is unnecessary to illustrate such products in order that the features of the selective positioning means of the present invention can be highlighted.

The flexible curtain element It) is preferably arranged to be convolutely wound about any known type of spring-biased roller shaft which does not need to have any clutching mechanism associated therewith. This is due to the fact that the selective positioning means serves the function of a clutching mechanism as will presently be described.

The curtain element 10 is preferrably guided at opposite ends thereof through the use of a flap element 12 attached to edge areas of the curtain element 10 which are arranged to extend into complementary shaped openings of opposed track members 14. The specific construction and operation of the curtain element 10 with the flap elements 12 is set forth in detail in my aforementioned co-pending patent application. The purpose for the flap elements 12 or corresponding equivalents thereof is to permit the curtain element 10 to be slidably mounted in sealed and non-shifting relationship in track members M.

While such features work well for the purpose intended, currently existing roller shade products about which the curtain element MI is preferrably convolutely wound do not provide the degree of accuracy and control that is desired in positioning the free end of the curtain element. It is for this purpose that the selective positioning means of the present invention has been developed. Before discussing the operation of the selective positioning means, it is necessary to describe the rigid bar 116 which is associated with the free end of the curtain element 10. The rigid bar 16 is designed to facilitate gripping and slidable movement of the curtain element It) without any displacement of the flap elements 12 from the track members 14. A rigid bar 16 is illustrated as having a bottom wall 18 and two generally opposed side walls 2%), 22 which are configured at the upper end thereof for the purpose of trapping the free end of the curtain element 10 there between. This is achieved by providing a side-oriented U-shaped section 24 on the side-wall 20 and an inverted U-shaped section 26 on the side-wall 22. The base 28 of the sideoriented U-shaped section 24 cooperates with an arm 30 of the inverted U-shaped section 26 for trapping the free end of the curtain element there between. Suitable fastening means extends through the base 28 of the side-oriented U-shaped section 24 and the arm 30 of the inverted U-shaped section 26 in order to attach the free end of the curtain element It) to the rigid bar 116.

The side-oriented U-shaped section 24 on the sidewall Zl) provides a convenient hand grip for slidably moving the curtain element H0. The bottom wall 18 of the rigid bar 16 may be provided with a slot 34 in order to receive a sealing strip 36 or the like, if desired.

In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, the selective positioning means now to be described is associated with the rigid bar 16 in order to selectively position the free end of the curtain element 10, through gripping of the rigid bar 16, in the position that is desired. The selective positioning means comprises a guide element 38 which is mounted to opposite ends of the rigid bar 16 and is designed to cooperate with a complementary shaped channel of the track members 14 in an adjustable, sliding friction fit therewith.

As will be noted from FIG. 3 of the drawing, the guide element 3% includes spaced elongated slots 40 for adjustment of the guide element 38 longitudinally of the rigid bar 16. Fastening means 42 extends through the slots 40 for attaching the guide element 38 in adjustable relation to the rigid bar 16 as best seen in FIG. 2 of the drawing. In order to lock the guide element 38 against binding action by fastening means 42, fastening means 41 extending through an opening 43 in the guide element 38 may be provided for holding the guide element 38 firmly against the bottom wall 18 of the rigid bar 16 after the guide element 38 is positioned as desired.

In addition to the independent adjustment of the guide elements 38 at each end of the rigid bar 16, a

twisting or arcuate movement of the guide elements 38 about the ends of the rigid bar 16 is also contemplated. The rear face 44 of the guide element 38 has an angular relationship to the front face 46 such that upon tightening of the fastening means 42, the guide elements 38 are twisted or moved in angular path about the ends of the rigid bar 16.

The longitudinal and twisting or angular adjustment of the guide elements 38 relative to the ends of the rigid bar 16 provides a binding or clutching engagement of the guide elements 38 in complementary shaped channels of the track members 14 as will now be described. For purposes of this discussion, the longitudinally adjustable tension force will be designated, as shown in FIG. 2 of the drawing, by the letter A while the twising or angular adjustment will be designated by the letter B.

Each of the guide elements 38 are provided with a hook-shaped end 48 which is designed to be received within a complementary shaped channel 50 of the track members 14. A similarly configured hook-shaped section 52 is integrally associated with the track members 14 for mating assembly relative to the hook-shaped 48 of the guide elements.- The channel 50 of the track members 14 is thus partially defined by the hookshaped portion 52 as well as end and side sections 54, 56, which are complementary configured and arranged relative to the hook-shaped portion 48 of the guide elements 48.

The selected positioning means is provided by a longitudinal adjustment A and the twisting or angular adjustment B of the guide elements 38 relative to the rigid bar 16. The clutching or selective positioning of the free end of the curtain element It) is primarily created by the the twisting or angular adjustment B which is designed to create a force couple for predetermined binding engagement of the hook portion 48 of the guide elements 38 with corresponding sections surrounding the complementary shaped opening 50. More specificaly, the force couple that is created provides a clutching or sliding binding engagement as at the areas X" and Y" of the hook-portion 48 and sections 52 and 56 of the track members 14.

The longitudinal or tension adjustment A imposes tension on the guide elements 38, as is desired, in order to stabilize the guide elements 38 for assisting in the clutching action, but also to avoid any cogging or chattering that could occur if the guide elements were not held inwardly in contact with their respective track members. The longitudinal adjustment is provided through the elongated slots 40 which enable the hookshape portions 48 of the guide elements to be moved into contact with the hook-shaped section 52 of the track members.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that the longitudinal or tension adjustment and twisting or angular adjustment of the guide elements relative to correspond ing sections of a track member creates a clutching or sliding binding engagement for selective positioning of the free end of the curtain element at exactly the desired location. The clutching or sliding binding engagement that is created, therefore, overcomes the springbiased effect of the roller about which the curtain element is convolutely wound for positioning the free end of the curtain element at the desired location.

Because the guide elements are individually adjust able at each end of the rigid bar, it ispossible to vary the clutching or binding engagement on each side sr so to accomodate any imbalance that might occur due to tolerances. If individual adjustment were not possible, any imbalance in the system could not be compensated for.

As will now be apparent the selective positioning means of the present invention provides greater control and positioning characteristics for spring wound curtain elements than is possible with any prior art device.

I claim:

ll. In a curtain assembly for an opening, a one-piece flexible curtain element convolutely wound about a spring-biased shaft which is rotatably mounted adjacent one wall surface of the opening, a rigid bar associated with the free end of the curtain element, and means associated with the rigid bar for overcoming the spring-biased shaft of the curtain element in order to selectively position the free end of the curtain element at desired locations said means including hook-shaped guide means which cooperatively engages a complementary-shaped track member extending substantially normal to the spring-biased shaft of the curtain element, said hook-shaped guide means including means for developing oppositely reacting and adjustable force coupled relative to the track member in order to provide predetermined binding engagement of the hookshaped guide means relative to corresponding sections of said complementary shaped track member for the clutching action that is desired, said means for developing oppositely reacting and adjustable force couples including means for longitudinally adjusting said hookshaped guide means relative to said rigid bar in a direction substantially normal to said complementary shaped track member and means for adjusting said hook-shaped guide means about the end of said rigid bar in an arcuate path which is also substantially normal to said complementary shaped track member (the desired friction clutching action of the curtain element and its guide means relative to the track member).

2. The assembly as defined in claim 11 wherein the hook-shaped guide means are mounted on each end of the rigid bar for engagement with generally opposed complementary-shaped track members.

3. The assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein the rigid bar includes a finger grip handle portion for movement of the curtain element.

4 *I it: i 

1. In a curtain assembly for an opening, a one-piece flexible curtain element convolutely wound about a spring-biased shaft which is rotatably mounted adjacent one wall surface of the opening, a rigid bar associated with the free end of the curtain element, and means associated with the rigid bar for overcoming the spring-biased shaft of the curtain element in order to selectively position the free end of the curtain element at desired locations said means including hook-shaped guide means which cooperatively engages a complementary-shaped track member extending substantially normal to the spring-biased shaft of the curtain element, said hook-shaped guide means including means for developing oppositely reacting and adjustable force coupled relative to the track member in order to provide predetermined binding engagement of the hook-shaped guide means relative to corresponding sections of said complementary shaped track member for the clutching action that is desired, said means for developing oppositely reacting and adjustable force couples including means for longitudinally adjusting said hook-shaped guide means relative to said rigid bar in a direction substantially normal to said complementary shaped track member and means for adjusting said hook-shaped guide means about the end of said rigid bar in an arcuate path which is also substantially normal to said complementary shaped track member (the desired friction clutching action of the curtain element and its guide means relative to the track member).
 2. The assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein the hook-shaped guide means are mounted on each end of the rigid bar for engagement with generally opposed complementary-shaped track members.
 3. The assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein the rigid bar includes a finger grip handle portion for movement of the curtain element. 